Chaos releases V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, a major upgrade to its all-in-one photorealistic rendering software. From 7 July 2022, artists can use its powerful new virtual world building and workflow tools.
These new tools can quickly distribute 3D objects, generate detailed 3D surfaces, and add procedural clouds to create beautiful custom skies. Thus helping artists to do more without additional plugins.
London’s Canary Wharf rendered using Chaos VRay 6 for 3ds Max.
V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max new features include an Object Scattering Tool, Procedural Clouds and memory-efficient geometric tiling. It also introduces a cloud collaboration tool to speed up reviews and approvals.
New features include:
- Object scattering
- Procedural clouds
- Memory-efficient geometric tiling
- Chaos Cloud Collaboration service
Object scattering
Chaos Scatter enables artists to easily populate their scenes with millions of 3D objects to produce natural-looking landscapes and environments without adjusting objects by hand. Objects can now be distributed, spaced, and randomized with a system that is built to conserve memory.
To help users get started with Chaos Scatter, there are free 3D models and scatter presets available in the Chaos Cosmos content library.
Procedural clouds
New procedural clouds, built on technology from Enscape, have been added to the V-Ray Sun and Sky system so that artists can create custom skies. Artists can now easily simulate a variety of cloud types and weather conditions, from partly cloudy to overcast.
Light rays and shadows using VRay on 3ds Max.
When these clouds are ray traced with V-Ray, they respond accurately to lights, shadows and volumetric effects, rendering them as realistic as possible. Procedural clouds can also be animated to create dynamic time-lapse skies and streaming streaks of sunlight.
Memory-efficient geometric tiling
VRayEnmesh is a powerful new tool that tiles patterns of 3D geometry across objects to create complex surfaces at the highest level of detail. Because the surfaces are created with full 3D geometry, it’s ideal for making intricate panels, fences, and fabrics that can be viewed at close range. VRayEnmesh efficiently generates huge amounts of geometry at render time without bogging down scene performance.
Cloud collaboration
V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max also incorporates a free Chaos Cloud Collaboration service. This shares images from V-Ray to Chaos Cloud. Clients, team members, and other stakeholders can now easily review, markup and comment at any time, streamlining the process for everyone involved in the project.
Other new features
- An improved V-Ray Frame Buffer includes a 360° panorama viewer, a flip composition button, helpful composition guides, and the option to share renders via Chaos Cloud.
- A new Finite mode lets users specify the height and radius of a dome light. Dome light ground projections are also improved with full control over blend settings.
- Metals and rough reflective surfaces are rendered more accurately using a new energy compensation method.
- A new thin-film layer in the V-Ray Material helps users create iridescent materials like soap bubbles and oil spills.
- Subsurface scattering in the V-Ray Material renders faster, and low-polygon translucent objects render smoother.
- VRayDecal can now project displacement maps onto any surface to add realism to cracks, rocks, and embossed details.
- Multiple textures can now be added to the VRayMultiSubTex map all at once.
- Improved UI. Material and texture interfaces are now faster for a smoother experience.
- A new hierarchy view allows users to control object visibility and material overrides within a V-Ray Proxy.
- V-Ray GPU improvements support nearly all new V-Ray 6 features and enable faster Light Cache and a new Device Selector to assign processors to tasks.
Pricing and Availability
V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max is available now. Starting with V-Ray 6, V-Ray subscription licenses work for all supported host applications, including 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Houdini, Maya, Nuke, Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and Unreal. V-Ray 6 is available in three packages:
V-Ray Solo
This is a fixed license for use on one computer. It cannot be shared between users. It works with all supported host applications and includes access to the Chaos Cosmos content library.
- USD 466.80 per year. Also available as a monthly or three-year subscription.
V-Ray Premium
Works with all supported host applications. Floating license for use on any computer, meaning that its can be shared by multiple users. It includes additional Chaos applications: Phoenix, Player, Scans and Vantage, and includes access to the Chaos Cosmos content library. Also includes 20 Chaos Cloud credits per year.
- USD 694.80 per year. Also available as a monthly or three-year subscription
V-Ray Enterprise
Includes everything in V-Ray Premium with a discount for purchasing five or more seats.
- USD 598.80 per year. Also available as a three-year subscription for a further discount.
Customers with perpetual licenses of V-Ray 3 for 3ds Max, V-Ray Next for 3ds Max or V-Ray 5 for 3ds Max can upgrade their perpetual licenses to V-Ray 6 for 3ds Max, or switch to a new subscription plan, at a discounted price.
About Chaos
Chaos develops visualization technologies that enable artists and designers to create photorealistic imagery and animation across all creative industries. The firm’s physically based renderer, V-Ray, has been honored with both an Academy Award and an Engineering Emmy for its role in the widespread adoption of ray-traced rendering in motion pictures and television.
In 2022, Chaos merged with Enscape, a leading developer of real-time rendering and design workflow technology for the AEC industry. Enscape offers innovative solutions that connect directly into modeling software, integrating design and visualization workflows seamlessly into one. Together, the newly combined company is creating an end-to-end ecosystem of 3D visualization tools.
For more information, please visit Chaos and Enscape websites.